Sidney school board honors students' accomplishments

Numerous Sidney Public School District students were honored at a school board meeting on Tuesday night for their recent accomplishments, whether in the classroom or on the stage, field, court or course.

Fall academic all-state performers commended in a resolution passed unanimously included: Megan Neal and Rachel Blauert, girls’ golf; Emily Mahr and Annalise Lecher, volleyball; Mia Hernandez and Abby Heller; girls’ cross county; Brenner Keane and Jacob Schaub, boys’ cross country; Hunter Secrest and Alex Linneman, football; and Mitch Verhulst and Cameron Baldwin, play production.

The girls’ golf and volleyball teams, which both took third place at state, were acknowledged, along with Blauert, Neal, Emma Alexander and Jami Flores for top-15 individual performances.

The November students of the month were also announced.

Criteria considered for the distinction include academic performance, work effort, contributions to class, leadership, citizenship and service to the school.

Recognized by the board were: Marissa Borchard, seventh grade; Carolyn Jones, eighth grade; Seth Studnicka, ninth grade; Aspen Arent, 10th grade; and Jessica Kissack and Zoraida Perra, 11th grade.

Additionally, superintendent Jay Ehler told the board the district had been classified “great” under the state’s new accountability model.

Unlike previous measures, AqUESTT, the new model, evaluates numerous tenants in addition to scores on standardized tests, he explained.

Board member Steve Mattoon said the administration and teachers should be congratulated for the high classification.

Also at the meeting:

• A proposed amendment to the district’s policy regarding grade placement for transfer students was tabled.

The change would allow the high school principal, in consultation with the superintendent, discretion to award credits toward graduation to students transferring into the district from a non-accredited school, including a home school.

Chris Arent, Sidney High School principal, said the current policy doesn’t allow credits to be accepted from a student transferring from a non-accredited school.

“That’s the practice and policy we’ve followed up until this point,” he said.

Ehler said the proposed amendment would allow for more discretion in determining in which grade to place a transfer student.

Mattoon asked if the current policy has been working.

“It’s been working,” Ehler replied, but added the change was recommended by the district’s attorney.

The board chose to postpone a decision while the district investigates why the attorney suggested the amendment.

• The next Sidney Public School District school board meeting is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 11, in the district’s administration building.